PC game enthusiasts, I need your help.

[DigitalAtlas]

So, I bought Hydrophobia: Prophecy off of Steam yesterday and I have an issue with it already: It won't start. IT loads up a menu to choose my video setting, then I click 'start game.' After I click start, the screen goes black, and then I'm back at my desktop without a Hydrophobia even running in my processes.

The game should be able to run on my PC, as I can run a few releases such as Portal 2

 

[Zeema]

YAY Portal 2

well im on a MAC so ill lend you some Iadvice

Clear Cookies, try and free up your computer a bit delete stuff you don't use.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

Update drivers, update DirectX, reboot your PC.

Everything should be up to date, I have everything auto-update and use DirectX quite a bit. Can't hurt to try updating though.

What UberaDpmn said, and then if that doesn't work then delete and redownload the game. If that doesn't work then you're fucked.

That's what I'm doing now as I've already rebooted my PC, defrag'd, yadayda. While doing that, I'll try updating.

Thanks guys.

 

[SNIPERFOX ft. Harry P.Ness]

[quotes IT crowd] Have ye troid turnin' it off 'n' on again?[/IT crowd quote]

[real advice]

Update all drivers, update direct X,or if all failes, try re-installing the game. Make sure everything is compatible.

oh, and i gotta use this joke:

the 90's called, they want their processor back.

 

[surg3n]

It might be some incompatibility with your video settings. Have you made sure there isn't an instance running as a process rather than an application? - sometimes a program can get stuck as a process. But try changing your display settings to something you know your PC can run perfectly - pay close attention to display size etc.

 

[SnowyGamester]

Whenever I install a new game and it isn't working properly straight away the first thing I do is dick around with the compatibility settings...some things like to be ran in XP mode, some require admin privilages, and some require disabling desktop composition or visual themes.

Since you use autoupdate and Steam, driver updates, game patches, etc probably aren't going to help. Also some games have to connect to the internet (or at least want to) so making sure it can get through your firewall may help...though that isn't likely to cause a crash to the desktop.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

It might be some incompatibility with your video settings. Have you made sure there isn't an instance running as a process rather than an application? - sometimes a program can get stuck as a process. But try changing your display settings to something you know your PC can run perfectly - pay close attention to display size etc.

I have checked that because I'm used to having to when running EPSXE and nothing in the list remotely looked as if it belonged to poor Hydrophobia.

I put it at 640x480 60hz for the resolution and the lowest settings for everything. Once that failed, I tried it in the optimal resolution of 1600x900 and that didn't even give me the black screen for more than a nano-second (IE: it closed faster)

As for updating drivers and direct x, for someone who just recently got into PC gaming and used to use a Mac, this will be fun....

 

[spivz0r]

If you've got a creative sound card turn off Sound Blaster enhancements. Have you had any other problems with games?

 

[DigitalAtlas]

If you've got a creative sound card turn off Sound Blaster enhancements. Have you had any other problems with games?

Nope, I can run L4D2, Sanctum, Minecraft, Amnesia, Shatter, and even Portal 2 on fairly good settings.

EDIT: I'm also checking if I can run Cargo! The Quest for Gravity, right now.

 

[Richardplex]

In your STEAM library, right click the game and click properties. In the next window click on the "Set Launch Options" button and type in "-novid" (exclude the quotes). This will disable the start up movies and take you directly to the game's loading screen and then the actual menu. See if it freezes durign that loading screen.

This is how I fixed l4d2, which had a similar problem. Maybe it will fix your problem too.

 

[Stall]

It might be a problem with the install, or the game's compatibility with some of your hardware. I would ask on the Hydrophobia Steam forms, or perhaps on the game's official forums should they exist.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

In your STEAM library, right click the game and click properties. In the next window click on the "Set Launch Options" button and type in "-novid" (exclude the quotes). This will disable the start up movies and take you directly to the game's loading screen and then the actual menu. See if it freezes durign that loading screen.

This is how I fixed l4d2, which had a similar problem. Maybe it will fix your problem too.

This sounds promising. I'll let you know as soon as it's done reinstalling!

 

[wicket42]

If it's a Steam game you can also try right clicking the game, selecting Properties from the drop down menu, go to the Local Files tab and select Verify Integrity of Game Cache.

Would save you redownloading the entire thing if you missed some files and just get you the ones you need.

 

[Weaver]

What version of windows are you running? If Hydrophobia is DX10 only it will require Vista or Windows 7.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

What version of windows are you running? If Hydrophobia is DX10 only it will require Vista or Windows 7.

Windows 7, just like the rest of the globe

 

[OrenjiJusu]

Use these guys to determine if its a hardware fault:
http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/

 

[Weaver]

What version of windows are you running? If Hydrophobia is DX10 only it will require Vista or Windows 7.

Windows 7, just like the rest of the globe

Okay, good
Some people are still clinging to XP. However the bad is that I don't know why it wouldn't be working. Hopefully your re-install works.

As a random, desparate last resort; also update your audio drivers if they're out of date. I've had games not start up because of dated audio drivers, as strange as it sounds.

 

[DigitalAtlas]

Use these guys to determine if its a hardware fault:
http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/

Except for me they're always wrong. Told me I couldn't run L4D2, I ran it on max settings smoother than a console. I have a graphics card they know nothing about.

What version of windows are you running? If Hydrophobia is DX10 only it will require Vista or Windows 7.

Windows 7, just like the rest of the globe

Okay, good
Some people are still clinging to XP. However the bad is that I don't know why it wouldn't be working. Hopefully your re-install works.

As a random, desparate last resort; also update your audio drivers if they're out of date. I've had games not start up because of dated audio drivers, as strange as it sounds.

As I've stated before, I'm used to running on a mac and have just gotten into pc gaming, with this laptop. So, stupid question time, how do I update my drivers? XD

It might be a problem with the install, or the game's compatibility with some of your hardware. I would ask on the Hydrophobia Steam forms, or perhaps on the game's official forums should they exist.

I shall do that after all the other suggestions fail.